Self-adjusting brassiere



Oct. 29, 1968 M. R. BARNES 3,407,819

SELF-ADJUSTING BRASSIERE Filed July 25, 1966 United States Patent j 11 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 3,407,819 SELF-ADJUSTING BRASSIERE Malls R. Barnes, 4636 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. 90027 Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,526 5 Claims. (Cl. 128-479) This invention relates to a light-weight, form-fitting, non-slippable brassiere construction capable of being used in the normal fashion and at the same time, adapted for use with backless dresses.

The present invention is directed to a novel brassiere which is conducive to costume simplification, an active athletic form of life or recreation and is adapted for use with various types of clothing. Although the general shape and form of the human female has not changed, the modern female is much more active, and in recent years, has taken advantage of modern fabrics and discarded the bulky and concealing undergarments of the past. The brassiere of the present invention is adapted for use with conventional sweaters, blouses and dresses as well as backless evening gowns. This versatility is obtained by novel arrangement and cooperation of elastic elements and resilient but virtually non-elastic breast forms which emphasize femininity without discomfort (or embarrassment due to displacement of the garment caused by vigorous exercise or recreational activity), the various elements being capable of almost automatic self-adjustment to the movement of the body of the wearer and the wearers desire to expose either more or less of her back in a gown.

Generally stated, the present invention employs a pair of preformed bust forms (preferably embodying the construction described and claimed in prior Patent 3,190,292) generally made of a light-weight, porous, resiliently compressible, foamlike material, each breast form being provided with a very light fabric covering, in combination with elastic shoulder straps and a narrow elastic body band having a particular relationship to the lower marginal edge portions of each breast form or cup. Although prior shoulder straps have normally been firmly attached to a specific zone or area of a body band, the present invention employs elastic shoulder straps which are simply looped over the body band (at the back of the wearer) and are slidable therealong so as to be able to assume different positions, with either greater or smaller spacing between the back terminal portions of the shoulder straps.

By the use of these various elements, of different elasticity, in the relationship described more fully hereinafter, a versatile light-weight, non-slippable brassiere is attained which firmly retains the breast within the cups even when the wearer is engaged in vigorous exercise, without binding, constriction or accidental slippage, and at the same time permits the wearer to Wear the brassiere either with the body band encircling the body at a normal substantially horizontal level or, when a backless dress is being worn, the same brassiere without further adjustment may be caused to adjust itself to such a position that the midarea of the body band can be attached to the upper edge of a panty girdle, girdle or other garment terminating in the region at the small of the back and thereby permit the wearer to wear an evening gown with a large expanse of her back free of any transverse indications that a brassiere is being worn.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to disclose and provide a light-weight, form-fitting, non-slippable brassiere capable of being used with either backless dresses or normal garments, such as sweaters, blouses, etc. while providing safe support for the bust without binding or discomfort to the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel brassiere construction wherein the lower rear terminal portions of the shoulder straps are slidably movable along a narrow elastic body band, the said rear terminal portions assuming positions at longer or shorter distances from each other in accordance with the activities and desires of the wearer.

A further object is to provide a pair of preformed breast receiving cups adapted to enhance the breast form of the wearer, said cups being attached to a narrow, elastic body band having portions overlying the lower marginal inner surface portion of the cups, the band portions contacting the body of the wearer at all times, whereby the wearers breasts cannot slip downwardly and become exposed at any time.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. For purposes of illustration, reference will be had to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simple form of the present invention, the view being taken from the back of a wearer (not shown) in substantially the position that the brassiere would assume when on the body of the wearer;

FIG. -52 is a back view of a wearer using a brassiere constructed in accordance with the present invention, two positions of the body band and shoulder strap portions being indicated;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a single cup, the view being taken from the internal or concave surface;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the plane IV- 1V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a substantially horizontal section taken along the plane VV in FIG. 3.

As previously stated, the brassiere construction includes a pair of preformed, finely porous, resiliently compressible breast-receiving cups such as 10 and 10, one being a mirror image of the other. Each cup is provided with a contoured outer surface 11 and a contoured concave inner surface 12. Each cup is preferably provided with a generally arcuate upper margin 13 and a lower margin, preferably gently arcuate, as indicated at 14. The upper margin of the cups preferably plunges toward a sternum zone (as indicated at 13) in which zone the two cups are suitably connected. The thickness of each preformed cup varies, the greatest thickness normally occurring in the region of the nipple (indicated at 15). Usually, each of the cups extends laterally towards an underarm end a greater distance from the nipple zone than from the nipple zone to the sternum zone, particularly when the wearer. is larger and heavier. Although in the exemplary form illustrated, the preformed cup (as best shown in FIG. 3) terminates in an inclined edge 16, the cup can extend further towards an underarm portion, as for example to a line of stitching indicated at 29.

Each cup 10 and 10 is preferably provided with a tailored well-fitted cover of light smooth fabric. These fabric covers 17 and 17 are preferably permanently attached to the cups as by a line of stitching 18. A delicate lace-like or pleated decorative edging is often attached to the margins of the covered cups; such edging is not shown in the drawings in order to simplify presentation.

The body of each preformed breast cup 10 and 10' may be homogeneous or in accordance with Patent 3,190- 292, each cup may include an insert of weighted material 19 in a zone above the nipple area.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a body band made of elastic resilient material which completely encircles the body of the wearer. In the illustrated form of the present invention, the ends of the body band are provided with cooperating connecting means which can be selectively engaged at the front of 3 the wearer in the sternum zone. For example, the closure or connecting means 21 (preferably made of thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic composition) is permanently attached to the end portion 20 and has a hook or the like for cooperation with the opposite end portion 20" of the body band 20. The end portion 20" can have its terminal folded over and stitched together so as to form a loop with which the hook of the closure element 21 can be selectively engaged.

The relationship of the end portions 20' and 20 with respect to their respective cups and 10 is important. For example, the end portion overlies the concave inner surface 12 adjacent the lower margin of the cup 10, and does not extend below the lower margin 14 of the cup 10. These end portions 20' and 20" are re'atively narrow (widths of of an inch to /2 inch are preferred but bands of an inch in width may be used). More over, the portion 20' should be shorter than the internal overlaid cup surface; this is best illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreover, it is important that this body band portion 20 be firmly connected to the preformed cup and its covering at spaced Zones along the lower margin 14, such zones being preferably two or three in number. As for example by lines of through stitching indicated at 22, 23 and 24, it will be noticed that the first and last of said lines of stitching are immediately adjacent the lateral ends of the preformed breast cup; in the event the breast cup terminates in an inclined edge 16 which is materially longer than the width of the body band portion 20, it is then desirable to connect the upper portion of such marginal edge 16 (in alignment with the upper arcuate edge 13 of the preformed cup) with a short piece of elastic material 25 which is then stitched to the body band 20 at 29 and to the breast cup at 26 as best shown in FIG. 3.

By the construction described, it will be evident that since the body band portion 20' is in effect shorter than the cup adjacent the lower margin 14, the body band portion 20 will contact the body of the wearer even when the wearer eXhales or there is very little tension in the body band; similarly, when the wearer inhales or exercises vigorously, contact between the body band portions 20 and the body of the wearer is continuously maintained. It will be remembered that the breast-receiving cups and the resilient slightly compressible material from which they are made is not actually elastic whereas the body band portions 20' are highly elastic and resilient. Any downward slippage of the breast from beneath the cup is precluded by the construction herein disclosed without creating any discomfort to the wearer.

A shoulder strap 30, made of elastic tape and provided with selectively operable length-adjusting means 31 is connected to the upper marginal edge portion of each cup as by a tab 32. The rear end 33 of each strap is provided with means slidably engaging the body band 20 at the back of the wearer, whereby said other end portion is slidably positionable along the body band at the back of the wearer. Said means for slidably engaging the body band may comprise a simple loop made by folding the end of the shoulder strap and stitching it as illustrated in the drawing. This relationship permits the entire brassiere to be worn in a normal position on the body with usual dresses, blouses, etc. as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. However, it also permits the wearer to simply stretch the'body band 20 and connect its midpoint in the back to the upper part of a girdle, panty girdle or other garment having an upper marginal edge in the region of the small of the back (as indicated in dash lines in FIG. 2) whereupon the resiliency of the body band 20 and its slidable connection with the elastic shoulder straps permits the shoulder straps to move outwardly and leave the entire back of the wearer undefiled by shoulder straps or any transverse indications that a brassiere is being worn.

Women engaged in various walks of life, from fashion models to golfers, dancers, professional women as well as those engaged in physical work have found the construction herein disclosed to result in greater comfort, assurance and versatility than any brassieres worn by them theretofore.'All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a light-weight, form-fitting, non-slippable brassiere construction adapted for use with backless dresses, comprising in cooperative relation with a pair of preformed, finely porous, resiliently compressible breastreceiving cups, each provided with a light fabric covering and having an arcuate lower margin, a concave inner surface and an upper margin of generally arcuate shape; an elastic and resilient body band having portions overlying the concave inner surface adjacent the lower margin of each cup, said portions being shorter than the overlaid cup surface, said body band being firmly connected to the preformed cup and covering at not less than two zones spaced along said lower margin.

2. In a brassiere construction as stated in claim 1, the provision of an elastic shoulder strap having one end portion adjustably attached to the upper margin of each cup, the other end portion benig provided with means slidably engaging the body band whereby said other end portion is slidably positionable along said body band at the back of the wearer.

3. A brassiere construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said body band is of greater elasticity than the lower marginal portion of the preformed cup and covering to which it is connected, whereby contact between the overlying portions of the body band and the body of the wearer is obtained when said body band is subjected to different forces in tension.

4. A brassiere construction as stated in claim 1 wherein one end portion of the body band is connected to one cup and the other end is connected to the other cup and means are provided for releasably connecting the two cups together in adjacent relation, and

a pair of elastic shoulder straps, the end portion of each strap being adjustably attached to the upper margin of a cup, the other end portion being formed into a loop around the body band and slidably positionable along said body band.

5. A brassiere construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said body band is of greater elasticity than the lower marginal portion of preformed cup and covering to which it is connected, whereby contact between the overlying portions of the body band and the body of the wearer is obtained when said body band is subjected to different forces and tension, one end portion of the body band being connected to one cup and the other end being connected to the other cup, and

means for releasably connecting the two cups together in adjacent relation at the front of the wearer, and

a pair of elastic shoulder straps, one end portion of each strap being adjustably attached to the upper margin of a cup, the other end portion being formed into a loop around the body band at the back of the wearer and slidably positionable along said body band, said body band being sufficiently elastic to permit the midrear portion of said body band to be removably attached to an undergarment in the region of the small of the back.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,243 10/1932 Richards 128-479 2,501,325 3/1950 Gates 128-479 3,077,197 2/1963 Garfinkel 128479 3,190,292 6/1965 Barnes 128-479 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIGHT-WEIGHT, FORM-FITTING, NON-SLIPPABLE BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED FOR USE WITH BACKLESS DRESSES, COMPRISING IN COOPERATIVE RELATION WITH A PAIR OF PREFORMED, FINELY POROUS, RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE BREASTRECEIVING CUPS, EACH PROVIDED WITH A LIGHT FABRIC COVERING AND HAVING AN ARCUATE LOWER MARGIN, A CONCAVE INNER SURFACE AND AN UPPER MARGIN OF GENERALLY ARCUATE SHAPE; AN ELASTIC AND RESILIENT BODY BAND HAVING PORTIONS OVERLYING THE CONCAVE INNER SURFACE ADJACENT THE LOWER MARGIN OF EACH CUP, SAID PORTIONS BEING SHORTER THAN THE OVERLAID CUP SURFACE, SAID BODY BAND BEING FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE PREFORMED CUP AND COVERING AT NOT LESS THAN TWO ZONES SPACED ALONG SAID LOWER MARGIN. 